Frankie the Wonder Wiener Dog: Very, very good. Though that was an easy one.

Selenitey: You were 474…so close. Though that one would have been interesting.

Kitty-kat: *bells and streamers* 475!! You're item will be in here sometime!

Selekat1000: LOL, a computer? I'd have to find a way to make it work in Hogwarts.

Vivian Marie: Close, very close. You're thinking along the right lines.

Phoenix Flight: Again, close, but not precisely. Though that guess is very near to the answer (and in all technicalities correct, but not what I was looking for).

Asprcreme: That's ok, happens a lot really. I don't know why…a banana? You are a strange one.

Gryphnwing: I just write and stuff happens. My chapters are usually 3 to 5 pages in Word. And that was some interesting object.

Redone: Close…very close.

Deinamari-Chan: It's not a hard riddle, but now he has to solve two. The next ones won't be as hard, but they will still require some level of thought. But no, the answer is not time, though that is close. About your pen-name? Sure, change it, why not? It's good to be spontaneous every once in a while.

Lady Lightning: Here's some more of that "father-son emotion" they didn't get to in the last chapter.

Kristen: Wow, thanks. They're pretty long, but well worth it.

Kateri: Yeah, whoever it is, he's getting nasty now. And I can begin to see the strain myself. I was wondering when he was going to break down.

Selke: Sorry…I didn't think they were that bad. Neither are perfect, and they are both learning about family. Incredibly tragic, huh? You are evil.

Sela: Thanks!

Lei Dumbledore: I didn't create them, no worries. I'm not intelligent enough to do that. When they're all done, I'll let everyone know where I found them though!

LovinsomeElrond: Welcome then! Here some more interaction for ya!

Snapefan51: It was a little easy. The fact that it was Ravenclaw's eagle may give him a clue, but I doubt it. Don't worry, all will be revealed soon.

Takari4ever7: Snape and Lupin get along for Harry's sake. I don't know if Snape and Sirius could ever reach that level, but hey, Harry can dream can't he?

Lee Lee Potter: Yes, they had a moment. There's another here. And no, Hermione hasn't been able to study while away.

Saavik: I'm surprised the kid didn't cry himself to sleep every night his second year when everyone hated him.

Chanzo654: You know, you're right. I think I've been focusing on them a lot, but it is their story. And with Hermione gone, Harry's life revolves around the riddles.

Tantz: Also close, though different from the others. In way, you're right.

Sparrow: He will, though it may take him a while.

ChristinaLupin01442: Welcome! Hope you like it!

Snape coolgirl: My muse is good to me. That golden eagle actually comes from my other story "The Last Sorcerer." I like to inter-use elements that I come up with in my stories. You'll find the message orb (Ch 7 I believe) in "Reflections."

Esperanza: As I said, Caribe is from "The Last Sorcerer." It was one of my cooler ideas, so I reused it.

Fanfiction fanatic: You were reviewer 500! That's amazing! And who are you talking about? LOL, you are good people. I don't know what I'd do without y'all. More bonding in this chapter.

Mikee: It was either that or Harry get yelled at, and he really didn't need that.

Charma1219: I don't know why, but that review made me laugh. I'm so disturbed.

Mistri: I vial of Sirius' blood? Interesting. But alas, you were not the magic reviewer. But keep trying! That's a great item!

Pyro Bear: Love the name. And I commend you for reading the whole thing. I did that with Not Myself…took me 5 hours straight.

Reanne080: Thank you *blushes*

Alecatq: A snow day huh? Well, as I live in the desert, I don't see snow very often. Not to mention I'm a Texan. Heck, we see sleet and we freak and shut everything down. Hehe…we're all crazy.

Wow, y'all are awesome. Well, there were so many reviews, that there was a 475 and a 500, but only kitty-kat left an item, so hers goes in. But it goes to Fanfiction fanatic and kitty-kat for hitting the magic number. Also, kudos to Frankie the Wonder Wiener Dog for guessing the riddle. I award you 10 points.

Ok, enough of that. On with the chapter!

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Screeching awoke the five boys the next morning, much to the chagrin of the others. Harry sat up to find Caribe perched on his chair, staring at Hedwig. Harry petted the snowy owl, showing her she was first in his mind, then noticed the letter attached to her leg.

Harry,

Adrian was off on a delivery so I hope you don't mind that I used Hedwig. It is less conspicuous that way. I wanted to apologize for yelling yesterday. If you wish to start animagus studies, meet me after dinner tonight. It will take a few years, but I think perhaps we could have you fully trained by graduation.

I also wanted to invite you to my chambers for Christmas. I have heard from Albus that no one has signed up to stay, possibly because of all the dark activity, so it will be just you and the teachers. As most of them know anyway, I do not foresee a problem. Send Caribe with your answer, as your owl delivering to me will seem suspicious.

Now, I believe you have classes to get ready for, do you not?

Harry laughed and got out of bed. He grabbed a parchment and a quill and began his answer.

I should be the one apologizing. I didn't mean to blow up at you. And of course I want to study animagi! What about Ron and Blaise, and Ginny and Hermione? Can they learn as well? I won't mention it to them until your answer arrives, I wouldn't want to get their hopes up.

Christmas sounds great. If it is all right with all parties, I'd like to spend a little time with Hermione and her family, but I will be here for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Don't torture the first years too badly.

Harry

He tied it to Caribe's leg and sent him off, then got ready for classes. He had Transfiguration first thing, then a free period, so he grabbed his wand and his text book. He shoved a couple pieces of parchment into his book along with his homework and a quill and set off for breakfast. Caribe was sitting at the High Table in front of Snape, who was reading Harry's note. Harry sat down between Blaise and Ron and began piling food on his plate.

"You're looking better today, Harry," Blaise said. Harry nodded with a mouthful of food and began reviewing his homework. He corrected a few errors from lunch the day before and stuck it back in his book.

~I will see you tonight then~ Harry nodded to no one in particular, but Snape saw it. ~Have you thought anymore on the riddle?~

~I have. It seems as though he is giving me a clue of sorts. I mean, he's never written anything after the riddles before, and this one says "the clock is ticking." Could the riddle have something to do with time?~

~I will give Albus my second class. Go to his office after your first period and we'll work on it there~

~I don't want you missing classes~

~How many times to I have to remind you that you're not in this alone? And I do not believe I stated that as a request~

~Yes sir~ Harry smirked and finished his eggs, then joined Blaise and Ron on their trek to the Transfiguration classroom.

Harry and Blaise almost completed their transfigurations perfectly, but Ron was having a little more difficulty. Together, they managed to help him, and McGonagall awarded Gryffindor ten points. Harry felt better than he had in days as he walked to Gryffindor Tower to retrieve his things.

"Hey Potter!" Harry groaned inwardly as he stopped and turned to face the blonde Slytherin. Predictably, his lackies, Crabbe and Goyle, were standing stupidly behind him.

"What do you want Malfoy? I'm due in the Headmaster's office soon."

"I just wanted to do something. If I'm going to be in trouble, it might as well be for something I did." He snapped his fingers and Crabbe and Goyle moved forward, faster than Harry had ever seen them move. He tried to get away, but they grabbed him and landed a large blow to his back. Harry collapsed in pain as spots danced in his vision. A kick to his stomach sent his breakfast all over the floor, and the three boys laughed as they retreated back to the solace of the Slytherin Common Room. Harry picked himself back up and gathered his things. Painfully, he trekked the remaining distance and entered the common room. He managed to avoid questions as he grabbed his bag and made for the gargoyle.

"Christmas Tarts," he mumbled and gargoyle sprang to life. He climbed the stairs and entered the room, dropping his bag at the door. Harry looked around at the self-cleaning room; the feather duster going wildly, a silent vacuum running back and forth over the carpet. Snape rose from the chair, worry set in his face.

"You are late…and hurt," he added after watching his son walk carefully to the couch.

"I missed a trick step in my hurry. I fell and landed on my back." He lifted his shirt so his father could see the large bruise that was forming. With a wave of his wand, it disappeared, and Snape pulled a Healing Draught from his cloak. Harry downed it with a thanks and sighed as the dull throbbing lessened, then disappeared.

"Now, about this riddle," Harry nodded and pulled out the parchment. "You said perhaps he gave you a clue?"

"Right here," he pointed to the bottom of the note, "He says 'The clock is ticking.'"

"So, I never was, am always to be, could have something to do with time…the future?" Harry smiled and nodded. It made sense. "Ok, so it has something to do with the future. That fits with No one ever saw me, or ever will. What's the rest?"

"And yet I am the confidence of all, to live and breathe on this terrestrial ball. The confidence of all?" Harry scrunched his face in thought while Snape paced the room liked a caged tiger. As he paced, Harry began to sing, softly, and he stopped.

"The sun'll come out tomorrow, bet yer bottom dollar that tomorrow, they'll be sun." Snape looked over at the now-silent boy, who was grinning ear to ear. "That's it! The answer is tomorrow!"

Snape smiled softly, "What were you singing?"

"Oh, it's a song from one of Aunt Petunia's favorite movies. The cupboard's near the living room, and I heard that one night while I was going to sleep. I must have been 7 or 8 at the time. But the tune always stuck in my head for some reason." Snape sat down on the couch next to the boy.

"Perhaps it was just a wish that someday things would get better."

"Yeah," Harry smiled, "I never dreamed I'd come to a place like this. I never even knew about magic until Hagrid told me I was a wizard. I'd always been told my parents had died in a car crash, and that's where I got my scar." Harry unconsciously rubbed the lightning shaped mark, thinking about all the different meanings it held.

To most of the wizarding world, it was a symbol of hope, that perhaps not all is lost. To Voldemort and his loyal followers, it was a symbol of defeat, that there is still one thing that could stand in their way. To the not-so-loyal Death Eaters, such as Snape, it was a symbol of freedom, of sweet release. To him, Harry Potter, the small mark represented many things. Loss of his parents, an unknown fame, the burden of being a savior, but recently, it was a symbol of pain. An active link to the Dark Lord, a means of inadvertent torture. What would Voldemort do if he knew that every time he tortured someone, Harry felt it? How much more ruthless would the Dark Lord be to others if he knew he could hurt Harry by it? And what would the wizarding world think of Harry then? To know that they are being hunted and tortured because of him?

Snape watched his son absently rub the small scar, obviously thinking. Only when pain flashed across the young face did Snape snatch the hand away, holding it firmly in his own.

"Harry?" The boy blinked, then focused in on the voice. "Harry, I believe you have a reply to send to Caribe's master?" Harry nodded slowly and grabbed a parchment and quill from his bag.

The answer to your riddle is tomorrow.

HP

He tied the letter to Caribe's leg and watched as the golden eagle screeched and took off. He circled the room, both men watching as a soft light began to glow around the creature. A bright flash erupted in the room, and when it cleared, the bird was gone.

"I guess we wait," Harry shrugged. Snape guided him back to the couch.

"What were you thinking about?"

"My scar, mostly. What Voldemort would do if he ever found out that we were linked through it, that he could hurt me through it." Snape nodded gravely.

"You're afraid that he'll be more vile and evil if he found out, just to hurt you." Harry nodded, just before pressing his palm to his forehead to stop the searing pain in his scar. He could hear Snape's voice distant, calling to him, but all that he could focus on was the pain.

Snape watched as his son's face contorted in agony. He grabbed the boy's shoulders and laid him down. Summoning a cool cloth, he laid it carefully on the boy's forehead, noting the severe redness of the famous scar. He moved to pull a potion from his robes when the child's cry froze his movement.

"Please…no…don't…just…little…baby…" Snape retched in disgust at what the boy must be seeing. He, a former Death Eater, had seen more than his fair share of mutilation and torture. But for a boy – no, his son – to witness it first-hand…he shuddered. Snape abandoned trying to lessen the pain and focused solely on pulling the boy from the vision.

"Harry, focus on my voice," he tried to keep his voice calm and steady, but was failing at the sight of silent tears streaming down the boy's now-pale face. "Come on, child, come back to me." He carefully, yet firmly, stroked the boy's cheek, wiping away the tears. Harry began to calm, but was still trapped in the vision. Snape steeled himself and knew he had to be more drastic. He sat the boy up and moved around, cradling the small form in his lap. Slowly, he began rubbing small circles in the boy's back, noting with some satisfaction that there was a little meat on the boy's bones.

He murmured softly, keeping his voice steady for Harry to focus on it. The redness of the scar lessened a little, and Harry's breathing slowed. Harry blinked, realizing where he was, and looked up through bloodshot eyes. Snape's worried stare filled his vision, and he nodded slightly.

"Harry, you cannot convince me, in any way, that you are alright. Look at me," Harry complied, wiping a river of tears from his cheeks. "What did you see?" Harry closed his eyes for a moment, willing the pain-filled wails of the baby to leave his mind. "Harry?" His father's voice snapped him back to reality.

"It was Voldemort. He was angry at having lost so many followers. He found...he found MacMillen's family…oh God, he…he…the baby…" Snape wrapped both arms protectively around the boy as he cried into his robes. Then it clicked.

MacMillen is in Hufflepuff. Ernie, if I remember Sprout correctly.

"Harry, everything is going to be alright. Calm down, child. You are safe here, no one would dare harm you here." He sat rocking slightly, listening to the boy's muffled hiccups and sniffles as he regained composure. It was going to be very difficult going back to classes after this.

Harry shifted slightly and slid off the potion master's lap onto the couch next to him. Severus didn't release him fully, keeping an arm around the youth. It took several minutes for Harry to fully stop, and he wiped his face clean.

"Does the Headmaster have a washroom?" Severus motioned to the side, and Harry stood shakily and walked over, shutting the door behind him. He heard the water run for a few minutes, and when the door opened again, Harry came out, clean-faced, and smiling softly. He reclaimed his seat next to his father and Severus wrapped his arm around the lad's shoulder.

"How do you feel about going to classes today?" he asked tentatively.

"I'll be alright, though I do have Divination today. I don't know if I can handle her anymore. All of her death predictions and phony displays are eating at me."

"I'll see what I can do. Are there any other classes you'd like to take? Perhaps I can talk to Albus about getting you transferred. I'm sure the professor won't mind tutoring you over Christmas break on what you've missed." Harry shrugged.

"I don't know what kinds of classes there are here."

"Well, as you know, electives start in third year, once you've passed your basics: Divination, Care of Magical Creatures, Arithmancy, and Muggle Studies. Likewise, there are electives that start in fifth year that expand on core classes. I teach the potions class, Cures and Antidotes. Professor Sprout teaches the Herbology class, which I believe Mr. Longbottom is currently in. Whomever the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is instructs the Protection Wards and Spells class," Harry smiled at this. "And I believe with the right amount of pushing, Professor McGonagall could be persuaded to start an Animagus class, though she would have to have the approval of the Ministry, and there would be a rigorous entrance exam. Not everyone is adept to it, you see, and it could cause massive catastrophe if the wrong person were to attempt it." Harry thought of Seamus and winced, not realizing until now that studying to be an animagus could have dire consequences.

"You think if I showed an interest, the Ministry would be quicker to accept?" Harry smiled slyly.

"Why I do believe this is the first I've seen of your Slytherin side, Mr. Potter. I don't know, though it is likely, the way they revere you." Snape made it plainly clear with his tone that he didn't like it any more than Harry did.

"That would be good, but if not, how about that defense class? I'll need it if Voldemort decides to attack soon."

"Defense it is. Did you still want to study after classes?" Harry nodded vigorously. "Well then, I suggest we get to our respective classes. Don't worry about Trelawney. I'll talk with the Headmaster." Harry nodded and stood, stretching.

"You're not going to tell Madam Pompfrey about my vision are you? She'd have me laid up in the Hospital Wing for a week."

"Of course not. If another one comes along, call me through the stones and I'll get you somewhere safe." Harry smiled and nodded, grabbing his bag.

"Have a good day, Professor."

"You too, Harry." Harry shouldered his bag and walked down the steps, meeting Ron and Blaise at the bottom.

"Harry, are you alright? Malfoy's been bragging to the Slytherins that he walloped you." Ron checked Harry up and down for any noticeable sign of pain, but could find none.

"I'm alright, Ron. That was nothing compared to what Dudley used to do to me." Harry was joking, but no one was laughing. "Oh, come on guys, it was a joke."

"No it wasn't, Harry," Ron said softly. They continued on in an uncomfortable silence to the Divination Tower. Snape stepped out of the shadows, a scowl on his face. It was time for the Dursleys to pay for the suffering they had caused his son.

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NOTICE: In your review, name one object (anything you like) and the 525thth reviewer will have the next chapter (after the review) dedicated to them personally, and I will include the item somehow (promise it won't be hokey…unless it's something totally off the wall). If it ever gets that high, I will also do that with 550th reviewer, 575th, etc…so review away people!